Hame tug and trace adjuster



(No Model.)

E. J. BLOOD. HAME TUG AND TRADE ADJUSTER.

N. PETERE Pholalilhugrup UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDlVIliJ. BLOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HAME Tue AND TRACE ADJUSTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,555, dated May 1,1883.

Application filed March 0, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN J. BLOOD, of Chicago, county of Cook, andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements ina Hame Tug and Trace Adjuster, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, that will enable others to make and use the same,reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters ofreference marked thereon, forminga part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of traceadjusting devices whichdispense with the use of a buckle, making it unnecessary to perforatethe trace or tug at stated intervals in order to lengthen or shorten thesame, as may be required.

Figure l is a side elevation of the frontend of a trace, showing thefastening devices connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a side elevation,broken away, of a metallic sheath, showing the outside. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section, showing the relative position of the trace andinclosing-sheath. Fig. 4. is a transverse sec tion of the same; Fig. 5,a section of the front end of the sheath, and the clevis or eyeconnected therewith, which engages with the staple in the hames; andFig. 6 is a modification.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a metallic sheath of arectangular form, the outer sides being provided with a number ofopenings a placed at regular intervals, as shown in Fig.2 of thedrawings. The inner side of this sheath is open, but is provided withthe longitudinal flanges a M, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, whichare adapted to overlap the edges of thetrace,preventingthe same frombeingforced laterally out of the sheath, and forms guides for the endsof the cross-bar b of the locking-catch E. This sheath may be finishedso as to be of a highly ornamental character,or covered with leather, astaste may desire. The front end'of the sheathis provided with theprolongation oring a", which is perforated for the passage of the bolta, securing the clevis B thereto. The lug a enlarges toward the end, thecontour conforming to the inner curved lines of thejaws of the clevis,which form of constructiomstrengthens these parts and prevents thestrain from all being thrown on the bolt a. This clevis is of the formshown, and is adapted to engage with the staple in the hame anddetachably secur these parts in relation thereto.

The front end of the trace or tug O is provided with the clip I), whichis bent or curved around theend of the trace and rivetcdthereto, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. There is sufficient space leftbetween the end of the trace and the inner curved end of the clip D forthe passage of the bar I), which secures the back end of thelocking-catch E-to these parts, and provides an axial hearing or jointfor the same, the opposite end being provided with the hook end I),having a square bearing-surface, and adapted to engage with the squareshoulder of the square aperture in the sheath A. The outer side of theclip D is recessed for the reception of the back end of the fiat springcl,one end of which is riveted or otherwise rigidly secured thereto,while the opposite end passes through theopening in the catch E, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, and exerts a pressure on theback side of the same,serving to antomaticallythrow the hook end of thecatch into engagement with the sheath A and retain the same in a lockedposition.

It will be observed that the apertures a. in the sheath are ofa squareform,and are curbed, so as togive theseparts the necessary strength. Theform of the hook end I) is of such dimensions and shape as to correspondto the apertures, the square end I) projecting over the edge of thecurb, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. By this arrangement the traceor tug is easily and conveniently lengthened or shortened, as may berequired, the operator simply pressing the hook inward with the iingerof one hand, so as to disengage the same from a locking position, theother hand adjusting the trace, the hook automatically engag ing withthe next aperture to which it may be adjusted.

Fig.6 shows the front end of the sheath con-- structed with an eye inthe end, so as to permit of the same being connected with the hame bythe usual hame-straps.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim,and desire tosecurebyLettersPatent, is-

1.- The rectangular sheath A, havingthe elongation a, and provided onthe outer side with a series of curbed apertures, a, While the back Iside of said catch for the purpose of retaining 20 side is provided withthe inner projecting flanges, a a substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a harness-trace, of the sheath A, provided withinner projecting flanges, a a adapted to overlap the edges of the trace,substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the trace 0, of the clip D, overlapping the endand riveted to both sides thereof, and the lockingcatch E, provided withthe bar I), inserted between the end of the trace and the inner curvedend of the clip, providing an axial hearing or joint for the adjustmentof these parts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with the clip D, of the spring 01, havingoneendrigidlysecured thereto, and the locking-catch E, the loose end of saidspring beingadapted to pressagainst the back the same in a lockedposition relative to the sheath A, substantially as set forth. I

5. In a trace-adjusting device, the combination of the followinginstrnmentalities, consisting of the sheath A, the clevis B, the trace0, 2 the clip D, the spring d,and the locking-catch E, provided with thehook end b, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the sheath A, provided with prolongation a ofthe detachable o clevis 13, adapted to connect these parts with thestaple or otherfastening device in the liames, substantially asdescribed.

EDWIN J. BLOOD.

Witnesses:

R. B. FREEMAN, J. A. SMITH.

